PRATTVILLE — A Prattville man will spend three months in the Autauga Metro Jail on a sexual abuse charge, and then serve 20 months probation.

Carl Taft Wilson, 45, of the 1500 block of County Road 51, pleaded guilty in November to the charge, court records show. Wilson originally was indicted on two counts of sexual abuse in unrelated cases, where the victims were men. As part of the plea negotiations, one of the charges was dropped. On Wednesday, he appeared before Circuit Judge Sibley Reynolds for sentencing.

Carl Taft Wilson(Photo: Booking)

Sexual abuse is a Class C felony with a punishment range of one to 10 years in prison. The state was recommending a three-year sentence.

Wilson’s attorney, Brad Ekdahl, was seeking probation. Wilson, wearing a dark suit and white shirt, did not comment during the sentencing. He remained out on bond following his guilty plea. An officer restrained him in handcuffs and led Wilson out of the courtroom after the sentencing was completed.

“Mr. Wilson is an excellent candidate for probation,” Ekdahl said, after sentencing. “He had no prior convictions. He was gainfully employed at the time of his arrest on these cases. I don’t think he is a threat to the community. While a 90-day sentence in the county jail is not what we were seeking, it beats a three-year sentence in the department of corrections.”

Wilson will have to register as a sex offender.

“The state is pleased with the sentence,” said Assistant District Attorney Dan Cowell, who handled the case.

When the plea deal was accepted, Cowell told Reynolds that the prosecution anticipated offering evidence that would show the victim was spending the night at Wilson’s home and woke up with Wilson on top of him and touching him improperly. The victim told Wilson to stop, but he continued the touching, Cowell said.